The Nigerian Movie Industry is booming across the world with new stars emerging every season. In the wake of the global succession, TalkGlitz Media has decided to compile a list of 10 notable young actors in the Nollywood making waves at the moment.
Jemima Osunde
Jemima Osunde (born April 30) is a Nigerian actress, model and presenter. She gained exposure after playing Leila in the television series Shuga. Osunde was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 15th Africa Movie Academy Awards for her performance in The Delivery Boy (2018)
Background.
Jemima Osunde was born into a family of five and is a native of Edo state. She studied physiotherapy at the University of Lagos. Osunde appeared in the film Jungle Jewel after being encouraged by her uncle to pursue acting.
She was casted as Laila in MTV Shuga, appearing in the fourth series. When the show moved to South Africa for its fifth series, Osunde was written out for a year. She returned for the sixth series when it returned to Nigeria. In 2018, she starred alongside Linda Ejiofor in the second series of NdaniTV’s Rumour Has It.
Osunde was back for the seventh series of MTV Shuga “Alone Together” which went out nightly featuring “lockdown” conversations between the main characters during lockdown from coronavirus. All of the filmings will be done by the actors who include Lerato Walaza, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Mamarumo Marokane and Mohau Cele.
Education: In 2019, Osunde graduated from the University of Lagos with a degree in physiotherapy.
She featured in the following movies and TV series: Jungle Jewel, Esohe, Stella (2016), My Wife & I (2017), Isoken (2017), lionheart (2018), New Money (2018), The Delivery Boy (2018), Shuga, This Is It (2016–2017), Rumour Has It (2018).
Olumide Oworu
Olumide attended King’s College, Lagos, and the University of Lagos. He recently graduated from Babcock University in June 2017. Olumide commenced his acting career at the age of six with the television series Everyday People. He is also known for his role as ‘Tari’ in the Africa Magic Series ‘The Johnsons’.
He starred in other television series such as The Patriot, The Men In Her Life, Hammer, Stolen Waters and New Son. Olumide portrayed the character ‘Weki’ in MTV Base‘s Shuga series, seasons 3 and 4. He is also a television presenter.
Olumide has won several awards including the “Mr. Popularity” prize in the Model of Africa 2012 contest, the “Nollywood Revelation of The Year” award at the Scream Awards 2014 and “The Most Promising Youth Actor” award at Ping Awards 2014. He won the Most Promising actor in the 2015 Best of Nollywood Awards and Best Supporting actor for his role in the Soldier’s Story in the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards.
He featured in different popular movies which are: Everyday people, A Soldier’s Story, Shuga, 8 Bars and a clef, The Johnson’s, The Patriot, Staying strong, Hammer, The men in her life.
Dorcas Shola Fapson
Dorcas Shola Fapson is a Nigerian actress and presenter, known for her role in MTV’s Shuga as ‘Sophie’. In 2020, she returned to the MTV Shuga series as it dealt with coronavirus issues, with the actors doing the filming, over several African countries. Presenting in 2018 for Ndani TV.
Fapson was born in London in 1991. Her mother died when she was 14 and she took her first degree in Criminology England. She then went on to study acting in New York.
She has appeared in series 3 of MTV’s Shuga and also was the presenter of “The Juice” an interview series for NdaniTV.
In the series 3 MTV Shuga, she returned as a medical expert “Sophie” when it went into a mini-series titled MTV Shuga Alone Together highlighting the problems of Coronavirus in 2020. The series was written by Tunde Aladese and broadcast for several nights. Its backers include the United Nations. The series was based in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire and the story will progress using on-line conversations between the characters.
She has casted in movies alongside Mohau Cele, Lerato Walaza, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Mamarumo Marokane and Jemima Osunde. She featured in the following Movies: Banana Island Ghost (2017), The Essence (2019); Television series: Shuga (season 3): Shuga Naija (2013-2014, 2020)
Efe Irele
Efeilomo Michelle Irele born 4 September is a Nigerian actress and model popularly known as Efe Irele. Efe Irele started her modeling career at the age of 15 featuring in various advertising. She has a BSc in Sociology from Bowen University and has a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Chester, UK.
She ventured into modeling for artistes and starred in Burna Boy’s Like to Party video in 2012. She also starred in Adekunle Gold’s Sade video. She has gone on the feature in several Nollywood movies and series including Real Side Chics, Wrong Kind of War, Ire’s Ire, Zahra, Scandals.
Efe launched the Efe Irele Autism Foundation in 2018 to cater for autistic children.
She won the City People Entertainment Awards(2018) as the Best Upcoming Actress of the year and Best New Actress of the year(English).
Ayobami Alvin
Meet Abayomi Alvin; he is a Nigerian Multi-award-winning Actor/ Model/ Writer/ and Event Host. He hails from Ekiti State, he is a graduate of Sociology and Anthropology from OAU, Osun State.
Right from his childhood, he has always had interest to be an actor, acting was his favorite hobby, he loved acting a lot and took part in School Plays, Church Dramas and Neighborhood plays but nursed the dream of becoming a Doctor.
In 2013, he was convinced his hobby should become his career, he was quick to realize acting is not as easy as it seems, it is a process that requires genuinely loving and wanting to be an actor. Abayomi found acting very exciting and challenging, he naturally gets bored fast and doesn’t want a monotonous job and acting gives him that opportunity to play the role of different people with different professions each time.
He started attending auditions from 2013 when he decided to become a professional actor, he got his first role in 2014, he got to star in a movie title ‘Collateral War’ directed by Iwuanyanwu Chuks and Produced by Chioma Okeke, he acted alongside Yvonne Jegede, John Dumelo, his first shoot was nerve-racking and he was so nervous that he began to stammer on set, after that he landed a very strong supporting role on ‘Calabash Banking Series’ by Obi Emelonye. He has since starred in Jenifa’s Diary, Isoken, MTV Shuga Naija, Jemeji, Moms at War, The Johnsons, Alive, Mentally, Truth, You, Me and the guys, just to mention but a few.
When he started it was difficult juggling school and acting because he had to be coming to Lagos, all his school allowance was going into transportation and it was costing him a lot as he missed a lot of major classes but his consolation was always when he gets a job, he tends to forget all the stress until he has to return to school again.
In 2017, he won the Best Actor award from 19teen Rom Awards and the Industry Cynosure from MAYA Awards, Nominated Revelation of the Year 2017 at the Best of Nollywood Awards, Revelation of the year at the Tush all Youth Awards, Most Promising Actor (English) at the City People Awards, Most Promising Actor at the African Entertainment Legends Awards, Next Rated Actor 2018 at the Nigerian Achievers Awards, Most Promising Actor 2018 at the Scream AllYouthAwards.
He has also received some recognition awards from the Achievement as a Young Actor from the Ekiti State Future Awards 2018, Achievement as a Young Actor from the Ekiti State All-Stars Awards 2018 and Honourary Award from the Association of English Education Students, OAU 2017.
Abayomi admits he doesn’t really have role models but he has a long list of exceptional actors, he respects their work and love to watch them, they include; Meryl Streep, Richard Mofe Damijo, Denzel Washington, Funke Akindele, Ramsey Noah, Tom Hanks, Viola Davis, e.t.c.
He believes he stands out as an actor because of the way he embodies any character he plays, he always tries to be very natural and believable as possible. He has the ability to do whatever it takes to completely embody a character, very patience, tolerance, and has the ability to work under pressure.
Abayomi is goal-oriented, reserved, confident, very caring, hardworking and a realist. He writes and host events / TV programs. He loves to watch movies, swim, listen to music, etc.
Sharon Ezeamaka
Sharon Chisom Ezeamaka is a popular Nollywood Actress, TV Presenter, producer, model, and television personality. She was born on the 24th of October, 1992 in Lagos State. she is an indigene of Enugu State and had her upbringing in Lagos.
Sharon had her primary and secondary education in Lagos State where she obtained her first and secondary school certificates respectively. Nothing much is heard about her educational background.
She joined Nollywood in 1997 at an early age of 5 years. She acted her first movie ‘Narrow Escape’ as a teenage actress alongside the key player of the industry Pete Edochie. She became more popular after starring in a hit movie ‘Dear Mother’, a sorrowful movie, she acted alongside Hilda Dokubo. the same movie earned her an award for the best teenage Actress at the African Movie Academy Awards.
Sharon Ezeamaka is a beautiful, lovely, creative, skillful and exceptionally talented Nollywood Actress. She is gifted at interpreting movie roles and can fit into any character assigned to her in most times. She is popular at taking a child role in most Nollywood movies with the captains of the Movie industry like Zack Orji, Kenneth Okonkwo, Regina Daniels, Eucharia Anunobi, Williams Uchemba, Ngozi Ezeonu, Promise Okika and other top stars. She is also a Television Presenter, known for a trending series Shuga, TV series produced by MTV Base. In this series, she takes the lead role of a princess. She has featured in several other series like High School Musical Nigeria and The Johnson. The movies she had featured are: Secret of the Night, Burning Desire, little Angel, Jailer, Rising Hope, Who is My Father, Shuga, Dorathy my Love, Narrow Escape etc.
Aside acting, Sharon is also a model and Television Presenter. She has anchored several TV programmes and done adverts for big companies. She has received some awards in the course of her acting profession, which includes: Best New Act to watch at the City People Entertainment Awards, Most promising Actress in Nigeria, at the African Magic Viewer’s Choice award. One of the most fascinating thing about her is that she is so immersed into her profession, that she claimed she is still single and has not even a boyfriend.
Sharon is a renowned Actress with a net worth of about $100,000. She is rated as one of the richest and most influential young actors in the Industry.
Tomiwa Tegbe
Tomiwa Tegbe is a Nollywood actor who went viral after featuring in many tv series especially MTV Shuga. Featuring as Wasiu in MTV Shuga and James in My Siblings and I has made him a king of the screen.. He believes he stands out as an actor due to his ability to breathe the character and get into the psychology of it, he is an extremely passionate creative, goal-driven, a committed performer with a clear sight of where he is headed, he never compromises on his standards and core values, he strives to make his characters as memorable as possible by creating something unique and leaving indelible imprints with each character he takes on. he places a huge premium on a strong work ethic and discipline as an actor, he believes the best branding for an actor is doing great work every time, also his hunger and yearn for knowledge. He doesn’t want to be just a good actor, he wants to be a great actor, he doesn’t want to be the next anything, he wants to be the first him!
Tomiwa’s age has not been disclosed but he is said to be around 23-25 years. He was born May 22. He holds a BSC in Environmental Management and Toxicology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He hails from Ibadan, Oyo State. Tomiwa says he has always been a movie geek right from childhood, he literally watched all the movies available in his childhood and he knew the names of almost all the movie stars. He says movies formed a huge part of his formative years.
He took part in dramas in his Primary school, Church, Secondary school, rehearsal time was always his best time in school, he was always happier during rehearsals and presentations, at a point he realized how much passion and love he had for acting so he decided to run and never relent.
His ambition to chase acting got fuelled from seeing how great actors like RMD, Bimbo Akintola, Al Pacino, John Travolta, Daniel Day-Lewis, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Joke Silva, Francis Duru, Stella Damasus, e.t.c. were able to provoke different emotions from him and he saw it as a challenge to be able to do same to other people, and when he got into the University he joined various Drama groups and ended up heading his Church drama unit till he graduated, as time went on he began to realize that acting was strongly connected to his purpose.
In 2011, Tomiwa made up his mind to chase acting, he then went on to notify his friends and family, he also asked to be informed of any movie audition opportunities nearby. His cousin informed him of a movie audition he attended and landed the lead role, he was in 200 level then and it was such a thrill getting a lead for his first movie role. He continued attending auditions but it was difficult juggling with school and he thought he had to take a break and focus on school.
After his first job in 2011 titled Valour by Niyi Akinmolayan, He has since been a part of several productions, some of which includes; MTV Shuga, My Siblings and I, Kasala, On the Real, To have and to Hold, Ehis Bitters, Growing Old, Aging by the Minutes, Uptight Girl, Kamelita, The Johnsons, How to Marry a Billionaire, Dazzling Mirage, and so on.
He admires Will Smith for his longevity and stellar body of work and feats, Leonardo DiCaprio for his acting depth and range, RMD for his longevity and life principles, Joke Silva, Stella Damasus and Bimbo Akintola for their ability to evoke and emote emotions effortlessly on screen.
Movies he has featured in: MTV Shuga, My Siblings and I, Kasala, On the Real, To have and to Hold, Ehis Bitters, Growing Old, Aging by the Minutes, Uptight Girl, Kamelita, The Johnsons, How to Marry a Billionaire, Dazzling Mirage.
Helena Nelson
Helena Nelson will be setting our TV screens alight as ‘Diana’ in the new season of MTV Shuga. The rising star has graced our screens before as an extra in MTV Shuga since season 3, featured on productions such ‘Clinic Matters’, ‘Until You’re 16’, and ‘Jenifa’s Diary’, and is going from strength-to-strength in the acting industry.
Denola Grey
Denola Adepetun (colloquially known as Denola Grey) was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and is one of three sons. He is from Ondo State, Nigeria.
Denola had his primary and secondary education in Greenspring Schools, Lagos. He spent a year at Oxbridge Tutorial College. Denola Grey is a bachelor’s degree holder in Media Business from Baylor University majoring on Analysis of Media and Fashion Market.
Denola started fashion at age 18. In 2008, His first job was as an intern in CMC. In 2010, He began working for Fruition Image Consulting in 2012, He worked with PRC Consulting. He also worked as an intern in Walter Baker as a supervisor of media activities of the company in 2010. He became a show host on EbonyLife TV. He acted alongside RMD and Eku Edewor in the TV series, Castle & Castle. He initially wrote style tips for men with BellaNaija and subsequently, he recorded style tips on camera for segments on EbonyLife. He works with Orange Culture and he is one of the brand Ambassadors for LFDW.
Tobi Makinde
Tobi Makinde (Age 32 years old) is a Nigerian actor who hails from Ilesha, Osun State Nigeria. He was one of the Casts crew on the movie series “Jennifer Diary” which transform his acting career.
Tobi Makinde obtained his first degree and Master’s Degree in Theatre Arts from the prestigious University of Lagos.
Tobi Makinde was introduced into acting at a very tender age of 7. His first role was in the movie “silence” as produced by Ralph Nwadike and directed by Tunji Bamishigbin. Makinde got a lead role in the sitcom, Kamson, and Neighbors at the age of 13. He came to limelight for his role as “Timini” in a series titled “Jenifa’s Diary” produced by Funke Akindele. He has also featured in other numerous projects which also include My Siblings and I.
During one of his interview sections, he stated that “The journey to fame hasn’t been an easy one. The day I decided to attend my last audition ever was the day I attended the audition organized by Scene one productions owned by Mrs. Funke Akindele Bello, for one of the new shows they were coming up with at the time called “Industreet”. To my surprise, I was picked for a role amongst the multitude that came for the audition. From there, I met with aunty Funke and the rest is history today because from that point on she became a mother to me”.
Tobi Makinde is very active on social media, with a fan base of over 69.8k followers on Instagram. He shares information about himself and what he does. He enjoys chatting and sharing information about his career (movie videos and pictures) with his fans.
He is also a thriving movie actor. Tobi Makinde’s net worth is an estimated $120,000.
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